A limited number of tickets remain for this game and the final game of the series on Saturday. Game two of the series on Friday at 7:02 p.m. is sold out. It will be streamed online (SEC Network+). The Saturday contest will start at 12:02 p.m. (SEC Network+). The entire Missouri series will be broadcast on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. Students who present a valid UGA ID will still be admitted free via the 3rd base gate. Student admissions are first come, first serve until their held block has been exhausted.
At 30-8 overall and an SEC-leading 10-5 in conference play, the Bulldogs are enjoying their best season since 2009 when that club was 31-7 after 38 games. Georgia will play three of its final five SEC series at home, starting with No. 21 Missouri (26-12-1, 7-7-1 SEC). The series with the Tigers is tied at 9-all. Last week, Missouri won a series over No. 8 LSU 2-1 in Columbia while the Bulldogs dropped a series at Tennessee 2-1. Georgia completed a two-game sweep of No. 24 Clemson Tuesday, winning 3-2 in 20 innings as the game lasted 6:33, both school records. Missouri breezed past Missouri St. 14-6 needing only 3 hours and 49 minutes to pick up its latest victory.
Georgia is winning with pitching, defense and timely hitting. The Bulldogs own a 2.67 ERA (1st in SEC & 4th-NCAA) and a .981 FLDG% (3rd in NCAA) and those are on pace to be school records. Georgia’s record for lowest ERA in a season is 2.97 by the 1958 club and the next best is 3.26 by the 1967 squad. Last year, the Bulldogs set a fielding record at .979. Georgia’s starting pitchers this year are 22-5 with a 2.20 ERA (52 ER in 212.2 IP). The pitching staff ranks among the nation’s best including number one in Fewest Hits Allowed/Per Nine Innings (5.8). Georgia is batting .267 with a .377 OB%. Five of Georgia’s eight losses have been shutouts.
Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock (6-2, 1.18 ERA) will start game one Thursday. He has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. Hancock had another tough luck outing in going the distance in a 2-0 loss in Knoxville last Thursday. He allowed a pair of runs on five hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. His other loss this year came 1-0 to No. 10 LSU when he pitched a two-hitter! Sophomore LHP C.J. Smith will start game two of the series. He is 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA this year. Junior RHP Tony Locey (6-0, 1.93 ERA) followed up his SEC Pitcher of the Week performance by tossing six shutout innings at Tennessee in a 7-1 win over the Volunteers. He took the mound after the Bulldogs had been blanked by UT in the first two games of the series and provided another quality start. The Bulldogs are 9-0 in games Locey starts. In five SEC starts this year, he is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA.
Junior returning All-American Aaron Schunk, one of the nation’s top two-way talents and finalist for the John Olerud Award in 2018, ranks among the NCAA leaders with 10 saves while batting .327-6-28 in 38 starts at third base. He was Georgia’s leading hitter in the UT series, batting .462 (6-for-13) with a home run and two RBI. He did not pitch in the UT series. He saw a seven-game hitting streak end this past Tuesday versus Clemson, going 0-for-4 with a BB, however he was efficient on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings.
Senior 2B LJ Talley continues to lead the team in batting at .348-5-25. Junior CF Tucker Maxwell leads the club with seven home runs and ranks third in the SEC in stolen bases with a team best 18. Georgia’s RBI leader with 33 is sophomore OF Riley King (.311-5-33). In the 20-inning marathon win over No. 23 Clemson Tuesday, King tied a school record with eight at bats, going 3-for-8.
Please note that the only baseball games with tickets remaining for sale are this Thursday, April 18 versus Missouri, Thursday, May 16 vs. Alabama and Friday, May 17 versus Alabama. The Florida series (May 3-5) is sold out.
GEORGIA vs. MISSOURI MATCHUPS
Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock (6-2, 1.18 ERA) vs. Junior LHP Jacob Cantleberry (3-2, 3.97 ERA)
Sophomore LHP C.J. Smith (3-2, 2.89 ERA) vs. Junior LHP Art Joven (3-0, 2.50 ERA)
Junior RHP Tony Locey (6-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Junior LHP TJ Sikkema (4-2, 1.11 ERA)
Television/Radio
TV Thursday: ESPNU (Tom Hart & Todd Walker) , 1st pitch at 6:02 pm
Friday SECN+ Streaming Link with 1st pitch at 7:02 pm: http://www.gado.gs/2c8
Saturday SECN+ 1st pitch at 12:02 pm: http://www.gado.gs/2ca
Radio (Entire series): Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (David Johnston & Jeff Dantzler)
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), also via the Georgia Bulldogs app and TuneIn app.
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA
Tickets:
-Foley Field – Gates/Ticket Booth open 2 hours before first pitch.
-Reserved Seat Tickets: $8; General Admission Tickets: $5
-Order online or by calling 1-877-542-1231
-UGA Student Tickets: Free Admission with valid UGA Student ID Card
-UGA Student Gate is located off Rutherford Street
StubHub: gado.gs/bsb0405t
Promotions
Thursday: First 1,000 fans receive a Kyle Farmer bobblehead
Friday: First 800 fans receive a 47 brand Georgia snapback hat